Coach: Jeremy Colliton (since 2018). 7/10
2018-19 record: 36-34-12, 84 points (6th in the Central Division, 10th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
Departures: Dominik Kahun (RW), Cam Ward (G), Anton Forsberg (G), John Hayden (RW), Marcus Kruger (C), Chris Kunitz (LW), Gustav Forsling (D), Henri Jokiharju (D), Artem Anisimov (C).
Arrivals: John Quenneville (LW), Andrew Shaw (RW), Olli Maata (D), Calvin De Haan (D), Robin Lehner (G), Alex Nylander (RW), Zack Smith (LW/C).
Top forwards: Patrick Kane (80-95 points), Alex DeBrincat (60-80 points), Jonathan Toews (60-75 points), Brandon Saad (45-60 points), Andrew Shaw (30-45 points), Dylan Strome (35-50 points), Zack Smith (30-35 points), Drake Caggiula (30-35 points), Alex Nylander (30-35 points), Brendan Perlini (25-35 points).
Must-improve forward: Nylander was once thought of as a high-lever prospect, like his brother in Toronto. The Buffalo Sabres finally gave up on him and the Hawks paid a hefty price to acquire him, so he needs to realize he won't get much of a better shot anywhere else if ever.
Top defensemen: Duncan Keith (45-55 points), Calvin De Haan (30-35 points), Brent Seabrook (25-30 points), Erik Gustafsson (25-30 points), Slater Koekkoek (15-20 points), Olli Maata (15-20 points).
Goalies: Corey Crawford (92/100 when healthy), Robin Lehner (91/100).
Top prospects: Kirby Dach (18 years old, C, third-overall pick in 2019 draft), Reese Johnson (21, RW), Philipp Kurashev (19, C/LW), Nicolas Beaudin (19, D), Adam Boqvist (19, D), Chad Krys (21, D).
Analysis:
Yes, I have them finishing sixth in the Central, but they'll still likely be ahead of the fourth team in the Pacific; it's just that the Central is so powerful, with the ever-stacked Nashville Predators, the still-great-without-a-defense Winnipeg Jets, the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, the Cup-contending Dallas Stars and the surging Colorado Avalanche that it's borderline unfair (this year).
The extra year's experience to young cats DeBrincat and Strome will benefit them greatly, and the Hawks improved their back end tremendously with the additions of Lehner, Maata (if he can stay healthy) and De Haan. Now if they could only get rid of Seabrook's contract so they don't have to protect him over more-deserving younger options for the expansion draft...
GM Bowman made a very questionable move in acquiring Nylander. You do not want to recycle Buffalo's garbage (they haven't made the playoffs in eight straight seasons for a reason), it's never a clean deal, and it's worse when you overpay. Unless he plans to make a move on the Edmonton Oilers' grumpy prospect Jesse Puljujarvi. After all, the Caggiula deal turned out ok for Chicago, so maybe there's something in the tundra that a bit of wind can help cleanse.
Prediction: 6th in the Central Division, 20th overall.
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